Kala and Chris got married at the Elms Mansion in October and they ROCKED this wedding venue.

If you’re considering getting married at The Elms in New Orleans, read on to see the what we loved about Kala and Christopher’s wedding in the space— and of course all the reasons why we think The Elms could be the perfect venue for your dream wedding!

When I met Kala I knew she had big plans. She told me why The Elms was their spot, and without me giving her a smidge of guidance she was already saying exactly the right things— “I definitely want something for the gazebo,” and “I’m all about organic greens and whites.”

Kala’s vision really makes the Elms sparkle, don’t you think? A big thank you to Neil Ladner from Gulf Portraits for providing us with photos!

In my eyes, Kala and Christopher’s wedding did a great job utilizing everything that the Elms has to offer.

The ornate and historic indoor spaces…

The positively LUMINOUS outdoor space…

And of course, the classic New Orleans pillared gazebo.

Every venue has a vibe. An Elms bride is classic, elegant and is making a statement— Just like Kala.

If you’re an Elms bride, you love the idea of an outdoor wedding, but know a little air conditioning is never a bad thing in New Orleans. An Elms bride wants a statement wedding, but doesn’t want to start from scratch. An Elms bride is looking for a little more personality than a hotel ballroom.

So Why Do We Love the Elms?

That’s easy:

Refined, historically significant home with authentic decor
TONS of gorgeous outdoor space
The “New Orleans” vibe goes for blocks and blocks up and down St. Charles Avenue

The Mansion itself was built in 1869 and the architectural detail is gorgeous! You can take a virtual tour of the space here on the Elms Site. It’s so special to see this level of historic detail outside of a museum space. the feeling is irreplaceable.

The Garden, though, that’s what makes the Elms a 10/10 wedding venue for me.

The Gazebo is one of the best eye-catchers in all of New Orleans, and the options for dressing it up are limitless! We’ve draped those columns in all kinds of gorgeous, flowing tule, installed huge hanging flower arches, chandeliers, lanterns— you name it! There are just so many ways to make those columns pop.

There’s also a Magnolia Tree that overlooks the ceremony space. When I asked my friend Jessica Serrano who manages the Elms about it she said “We love our magnolia! It’s between 250 and 300 years old which predates the house (1869). We have Lobbs Horticulturists come out once a month for treatment and inspection. While we don’t know for certain, we believe it’s one of the largest magnolias in Louisiana. At fist glance, everyone assumes it’s an Oak because of the size. The canopy of the magnolia along with our two oaks, provides the perfect amount of coverage for daytime events and keeps our patio nice and cool during the warmer months.”

The tree predates the mansion (1869), and adds a southern ambiance to the space that is so gracious, providing fantastic shade coverage and gorgeous, diffuse light to get married in. Love, love, love it.

And of course, the last piece of the puzzle for making a wonderful venue for the bride, is the staff. I’ve known Jessica Serrano for years now, and she never fails to impress me with her professionalism. She is a natural. We love to work at the Elms, most of all, because their people are poised, capable, and courteous.

Extra Things to Know About the Elms:

At the Elms you get real glasses, plates and silver – no plastic allowed here!
The Elms can accommodate weddings and parties up to 350 guests, before you add in the additional garden space.
The portrait at the stairs is one of the owners and stewards of the mansion— Faith Elms, from Mardi Gras.
At the time of writing of this blog, Fat Cat Flowers has worked forty-seven weddings, one Mardi Gras party, one photo shoot and a Christmas party at the Elms Mansion, and we can’t wait to do more!